🇬🇷 Greece · Places to discover
What to see in Santorin ?
23 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
MAP · OVERVIEW
Santorin is a volcanic caldera, not an ordinary island. What the postcard won't tell you is that perched villages like Oia and Fira are built on the walls of a crater that collapsed 3,600 years ago. This brutal geology explains everything: the black cliffs, the ash beaches and that particular light that falls differently at different times of day.
Choose September or October to avoid the human saturation of July–August, when Oia's streets become impassable at sunset. Three days are enough to get round without rushing. Hire a quad or car; buses are slow and overcrowded. Skip restaurants with prime caldera views-you're paying double the price for ordinary food just for the outlook.
Landmarks & heritage (8)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAAncient Thira
Landmark
Hellenistic city perched at 369m on Mesa Vouno, accessible on foot from Kamari or Perissa. Panoramic view over both coasts of the island and perfectly preserved Doric ruins, without crowds.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAAkrotiri Archaeological Site
Landmark
Minoan city buried beneath volcanic ash around 1600 BC, often called the 'Pompeii of the Aegean'. The frescoes and ruins preserved under a modern roof are of museum-quality rarity.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPrehistoric Museum of Thera, Fira
Landmark
National museum housing the finest frescoes from Akrotiri and exquisitely crafted Minoan objects. Less crowded than the archaeological site itself, it allows for a deeper understanding of Cycladic civilisation.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAVenetian Castle of Skaros, Imerovigli
Landmark
Spectacular volcanic outcrop overlooking the caldera from Imerovigli, remnant of a 13th-century Venetian castle. The ridge hike offers vertiginous views over the strait and neighbouring islands.Faros Lighthouse, Akrotiri
Landmark
A 19th-century neoclassical lighthouse at the south-western tip of the island, facing the volcano. An almost deserted spot even in high season, ideal for watching sunsets without the crowds of Oia.Ypapanti Orthodox Cathedral, Fira
Landmark
Fira's metropolitan cathedral, dominating the caldera from its promontory. The richly decorated interior features Byzantine frescoes and is often overlooked by tourists who simply pass along the main street.Agios Minas Orthodox Church, Exo Gonia
Landmark
Small whitewashed church nestled in the vineyards between Pyrgos and Kamari, far from tourist circuits. One of the most photographed on the island by those in the know, with its blue dome and authentic bucolic setting.Kasteli Castle
Landmark
Fortified medieval village perched on the hilltop at the centre of Santorini, with its concentric alleyways typical of Cycladic defensive architecture. The island's highest inhabited point offers 360° views over the caldera.Nature & parks (2)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPumice Cliffs of Fira
Nature
Volcanic tuff and pumice cliffs that plunge 300m into the caldera from Fira are geologically unique in the world. The footpath along the rim offers viewing angles impossible to reach elsewhere.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANea Kameni Island (Active Volcano)
Nature
Volcanic island born from successive eruptions since antiquity, at the centre of the caldera. The hike to the smoking crater and bathing in sulphurous hot springs constitute a unique geological experience in the Mediterranean.Viewpoints (2)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SASantorini Caldera from the Fira-Oia Trail
Viewpoint
Coastal hiking trail of 10km connecting Fira to Oia along the caldera rim. The view of the submerged crater, pumice cliffs and whitewashed villages clinging to the rock is among the most striking in the Mediterranean.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANea Kameni Island (Active Volcano)
Viewpoint
Volcanic island formed by successive eruptions since antiquity, lying at the centre of the caldera. The hike to the smoking crater and bathing in the warm sulphurous hot springs constitute a unique geological experience in the Mediterranean.Activities (4)
Pyrgos – Profitis Ilias Hike
Activity
3km trail from Pyrgos to the island's highest point (565m), with its 18th-century Byzantine monastery. 360° views across the entire island and on clear days as far as Crete – popular with locals on Sunday mornings.Scuba Diving at Nea Kameni
Activity
The depths around the submerged volcano reveal lava formations, gas bubbles and dense Mediterranean fauna. Several local diving centres offer guided dives in this unique geologically active zone.Santo Wines Estate, Pyrgos
Activity
Historic wine cooperative perched on the heights of Pyrgos with a panoramic terrace overlooking the caldera. The dry white Assyrtiko and Vinsanto (dessert wine from sun-dried grapes) are produced here using ancestral methods.Sigalas Estate, Oia
Activity
One of the finest producers of Santorini Assyrtiko, a unique volcanic grape variety. Wine tasting directly in the terraced vineyards with views over the caldera – a place locals recommend in hushed tones.Beaches (3)
Perivolos Beach
Beach
Extension of Perissa beach towards the south, with black volcanic sand and calmer waters. Less crowded than Perissa, with a few authentic fish tavernas along the shoreline.Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia)
Beach
Beach nestled in cliffs of blood-red iron oxide, accessible only on foot from Akrotiri. The contrast between the red rock, dark sand and turquoise sea is spectacular – arrive early in the morning.Vlychada Beach
Beach
Beach to the south of the island bordered by cliffs of volcanic ash with lunar-like forms sculpted by erosion. Less crowded than Perissa or Kamari, with an authentic fishing harbour at one end.More to discover (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAVillage of Vothonas
Place
Troglodyte village carved into volcanic rock, one of the least known on the island. The cave-houses (hyposkafa) carved into pumice are a unique vernacular architecture, today partly converted into accommodation.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAMegalochori Village
Place
Agricultural village in the south-central area, preserved from tourist pressure, with wine caves carved into volcanic rock (canava) and a shaded central square. Intact Cycladic architecture and the atmosphere of an ordinary Greek village.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAAmmoudi Bay Harbour
Place
Small natural harbour at the foot of Oia's cliffs, accessible via 214 steps carved into volcanic rock. Locals swim from the rocks here, fishing boats unload their catch – a pre-mass-tourism Santorini.Fira Market (Agora)
Place
Fira's local market, away from the main shopping street, where island producers sell dried cherry tomatoes, capers, fava and Vinsanto. The best place to take home authentic local products.